Well, what a week. What with unofficial Christmas drinks with friends, mountains of cake and mince pies in the office and two food-laden parties, I'm already feeling as stuffed as a turkey! Hopefully there will be a bit of respite now until the big day, when I will be cooking roast pork for my ma and pa. Yes, my mother has given me free rein of the kitchen on Christmas Day. I just hope she's also stocked up on plenty of wine to help me along...Like most of you, today I shall be doing some last minute shopping before meeting some chums at the Serpentine Gallery. I'm in the process of convincing them to go to the Winter Wonderland after but this is proving more of a challenge. This weekend I shall also squeezing in a final run to keep the muffin top at bay and finishing off a couple of homemade Christmas presents which I started last night in front of Love Actually (Christmas movie number one - The Muppet Christmas Carol is scheduled for the epic parcel wrapping session tomorrow). Sadly I can't publish any photos of my handiwork yet or it would spoil the surprise... but I'm pleased with how they're turning out.Well, as we're all so busy, I shall say goodbye for now. Oh, and Merry Christmas one and all. I have a feeling it's going to be a good one...

Well, I don't know about you lot, but I'm knackered. This week there has been one too many meals out, evenings in the pub and late nights followed by early mornings. I'm pooped, and very relieved that I had the foresight to cancel a weekend helping my lovely friend Darren move. Sorry Darren, but I wouldn't have been much use anyway as a week of excess has left me with a rather delicate back!The good news is one of my meals out was with my writing chum Charlene. After a moan about work, flat hunting and Christmas shopping for those awkward family members (you know who you are!) we headed to Le Pain Quotidien in Covent Garden for a cake and to share some writing. Charlene seemed to quite like my effort (and mine hers too!), although she pointed out that it does need a bit of tweaking. But, it's Christmas. So below is a bit of a taster, just for you. I hope you like it - and I'd love to receive any feedback... Happy Reading.

In the room, someone laughed. Sam joined in automatically. She looked around, a wide smile on her face, hopeful for a clue as to what had caused such hilarity. Miranda stared back, that standard quizzical expression on her face, from the 42 inch flat screen telly Sam’s son Jason had given the family this time last year. Sam took a swig from her can of lager and watched as the comedienne bungled about. “Stupid upper class bitch.” She muttered to herself as she put a cigarette between her lips. Taking a drag, she looked around the room again. In the corner next to the patio doors stood the Christmas tree. Sparsely decorated with twinkling fairy lights and uniform white and silver baubles (“so it doesn’t look cheap, mum” Angela had insisted) it glowed gently, a beacon of hope in the otherwise grey afternoon. Below it was the usual stack of present for the kids, the grandkids, Dave. It had been a struggle this year, but Sam wasn’t one to let the family down when it came to Christmas. “Er, hello? Earth to mum!” Sam turned in her seat to look at her daughter, her mouth already open to put her back in her place for her cheek. Behind her youngest stood Ellie, the new girl on the estate who seemed to have latched on to Angela and the other more established kids. Sam tried to pull herself into a more upright position on the slouched sofa but, with her can on one hand and a fag in the other, soon gave up. She heard her daughter mutter something (Pissed. She had used the word pissed.) but chose to ignore it. “Y’all right girls? What you up to? What’s going on?” Angela rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “We’re going to the pub. Everyone else is going, it’s too cold to hang around out there. You got a tenner?” She held out her hand. Her expression was beyond expectant. There was no negotiating in her daughter’s large brown eyes, the eyes that never failed to bring back her father’s face to Sam no matter how hard she tried to block it out, to forget. Sam sucked at her teeth and rolled her eyes in return as she popped her cigarette between her lips and delved into her jeans pocket. Casually she inspected the contents. One crumpled ten pound note, a couple of pound coins and some shrapnel. All she had left until the 28th. And certainly not enough to pay the rent. The rent. Sam nearly snorted a laugh.

How on earth does one fit in flat hunting, preparing for Christmas, having a social life AND writing around a demanding full time job? Seriously, I need to know! It has been a manic week, and, whilst it has been pretty darn good, it’s also been pretty exhausting - I haven’t had a night in since Monday. Let me summarise...

Magic Flute at the Collesium on Tuesday – a fantastic night, especially as some kind soul handed in my mobile phone rather than nicking it after I left it in the pub...

Choir practice on Wednesday – always a pleasure!

Christmas shopping and dinner at Seven Dials on Thursday – with only two stocking fillers purchased, not the most productive, but fun all the same.

Flat viewing on Friday, which lead to an offer being made (watch this space) and me losing my mobile phone once more, this time in the estate agents car. Someone shoot me.

Choir concert and The Dance Before Christmas at The Vaults on Saturday, fuelled by Red Bull, great music and a large Cornish pasty. And this week isn’t looking any quieter... The good news is, among the mayhem, I have managed to write three quarters of a short story which I intend to share with my writing buddy Charlene on Tuesday over dinner and, if I’m happy with the end result, I hope to enter in the ABC Tales Christmas competition. Watch this space for its online publication...On that note, I shall say adieu. Its seven thirty and I want to call my sister and my mum, polish off said short story and have a well earned soak in the tub before bed... wish me luck!

THE JUICE

Here you will find my latest news, including what I have been up to and what I have been writing (and making). Hopefully you'll like what I have to say - and perhaps I will motivate you to get creative too...